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2009 Barcelona Auto Show Will Take Place

The race is back on, as today Spanish authorities announced the 2009 Barcelona Auto Show is back on the grid and will take place as scheduled, starting May the 9th.

The recovery was made possible thanks to the Spanish government's assistance, who's involvement saved the event, Autonews reported. The shows organizers said no less than 53 brands confirmed they will attend the event, a number that is an "all-time record participation."

After Spanish new car sales declined to unprecedented levels over the past few months and fewer car manufacturers expressed their intentions not to attend, organizers announced at the end of January this year's Barcelona Show will no longer be on the automotive industry's agenda.

The compensation sought by Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones (ANFAC) as a result of the cancellation seems to have solved the money issues raised by the event.

The show was also saved by the stubbornness of Barcelona's FIRA exposition center to accept the cancellation on the 90th anniversary of the show. Their efforts focused on making the Auto Show be declared an "Event of Exceptional Public Interest," like the Olympics or international events.

By doing so, those manufacturers and sponsors who will be present in Barcelona will be able to deduct advertising and other costs from taxes to be payed in 2009 and 2010. Ever since it was declared an exceptional event, Spanish firms from the energy and finance sectors have committed millions of euros to sponsor the event.

Sponsorship fees paid to the organizers will subsidize manufacturer's attendance and benefit from government tax breaks, sources told Autonews.

From the visitor's stand point, it is nothing but good news. Having already tasted future developments in the industry at the Geneva Show, the Spanish Auto Show is yet another opportunity to enjoy 8 more days of design, technology, infotainment and so on.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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